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Young Professionals

Gain a year of valuable international work experience in Canada

“This international experience opened my mind to other opportunities, it helped me to gain the work experience I needed to advance my education. So, in the fall of 2010, I started a graduate certificate in public management and governance at the University of Ottawa.” - Thiago Fernandes, Brazil, International Work Experience in Canada

If you’re a Latvian citizen and are between the ages of 18 and 35, you can gain valuable professional experience working for a Canadian company. This will give you the opportunity to:

  • work on teams from diverse cultural backgrounds.
  • learn new approaches from different perspectives.
  • experience Canada to its fullest!

Why not travel and work abroad through International Experience Canada (IEC)?

In this global economy, being a highly skilled professional with diverse international experience will only make you more marketable in an increasingly competitive job market.

Canada has an agreement with Latvia that enables the Government of Canada to issue work permits to Latvian citizens who wish to travel and work in Canada for up to one year through International Experience Canada.

Eligibility Criteria for the Young Professionals Category

The Young Professionals category is designed for Latvian citizens, particularly graduates of a post-secondary educational institutions in Latvia, who wish to further their careers by gaining work experience under a pre-arranged contract of employment in Canada (maximum 12 months).

To be eligible for the Young Professionals category, you must:

  1. be a Latvian citizen residing in Latvia at the time of application;
  2. be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive);
  3. have the equivalent of C$2,500 to help cover your expenses involved at the beginning of your stay;
  4. be prepared to take out health-care insurance for the duration of your stay – you may have to present evidence of this insurance when you enter Canada;
  5. pay a participation fee that is equivalent to C$150 in Latvian Lats (LVL);
  6. have received a signed letter of job offer or contract of employment in Canada that is related to your field of professional expertise (degree and/or work experience) and that supports your career development (progression or lateral movement); and,  
  7. not have participated in the same category before. As a Latvian citizen, you may participate in International Experience Canada only twice and each time under a different category. There must be 12 months between the end of your work permit in Canada, and the date you submit your application to IEC.

Admissibility (for work permit)

Every person who enters Canada as a temporary resident (visitor, worker or student) must meet general requirements for temporary entry as set out in Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations.

At any time during the processing of your application, Citizenship and Immigration Canada may request additional information or documents to determine your admissibility.

Imagine working at a university in Newfoundland, a design firm in Montreal, or a business in Calgary... The possibilities are as endless as the experiences you can add to your resume!

Independent Travel In Canada

Have your year-long Canadian work experience already mapped out?

  • Find a job before applying.
  • Start the application process.
  • Make your own travel and accommodation arrangements, and buy health-care insurance (once you have received your Letter of Introduction).

Please note: International Experience Canada does not help with financing, travel plans or your job search.

Still have questions? Check our FAQ page for answers to commonly asked questions.

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Date Modified:
2013-05-13